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“That Is The League” – Arteta Speaks After Arsenal Lose To Villa
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has insisted that his team would bounce back and move on from the dramatic 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday.
According to Arteta, the Gunners have been to a lot of different grounds and the result could have been different.
He however acknoleged that the outcome of Saturday’s game represents one of the highlights of the English Premier League, but remains confident they will handle the mounting pressure.
“That is the league, you go to Old Trafford, you go to St James’ Park, you go to Chelsea, you come here, we have been in a lot of difficult grounds,” he said.
“The result could have been different, the reality is not. We went 18 games unbeaten and still we are there, close to each other.
“That is the level of the league, we know that. That is the opportunity that we have ahead of us and that’s it.
“Now it is time to bounce back, they have given me all the right reasons to think we are going to perform at the same level. We move on. We will learn from today and it will make us a better team,” he said.
Naija News recalls that Arsenal’s title push suffered a painful setback on Saturday after a dramatic late winner saw Aston Villa clinch a 2-1 win at Villa Park.
The Premier League match looked destined for a draw until Emiliano Buendia struck deep into added time to seal all three points for the home side.
Speaking further, Arteta commented on the impact of injuries to some players on the overall output from the team.
“It’s five months into the competition and so far we have coped. We are going to have to prove we can cope again, again, again for another six months.
“People who think at this moment we are going to be 10 points clear live in a different world,” he said.
The Gunner’s boss also revealed that centre-back Cristhian Mosquera’s ankle injury is worse than first feared and the defender would be out for weeks.
“He is going to be out for weeks, unfortunately.
“It is much more than we were expecting, so he is going to be out for weeks,” Arteta said.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
France manager Didier Deschamps believes his team will be among the leading contenders for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding that only a small group of nations have the quality and experience to challenge for the trophy.
The expanded World Cup kicks off in June next year across the United States, Canada and Mexico. France have been drawn in Group I, where they will face a strong Senegal side and a rising Norway team. It is a demanding group on paper, but Didier Deschamps is confident his squad will arrive ready to compete.
His side came within moments of winning the title in Qatar in 2022, only to lose dramatically to Argentina in the final. Asked whether he views the next World Cup as a chance to avenge that defeat, the France coach dismissed the idea of revenge and stressed that every tournament brings a fresh challenge.
“There is no rematch in soccer. Argentina won [the 2022 World Cup] and there is nothing we can do about it now,” Deschamps said in an interview with Olé. “This is a new competition and we are going to try to go as far as possible. France can be a contender.”
The former World Cup winner also pointed out that the level of competition remains fierce, even with a larger field of nations involved. “As in every World Cup, there are between six and seven teams that can win, but in the end, only one wins. To be the best, you have to beat all the teams,” he said.
Deschamps also shared his belief that global icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo should be part of the tournament. “They [Messi and Ronaldo] are two players who have marked international soccer for more than 15 years; without a doubt, it is something special for them,” he said.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
The Cranes of Uganda have arrived Casablanca, Morocco, for their final preparations ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.
Seventeen players, technical crew members and officials departed the Entebbe International Airport, Kampala, aboard Qatar Airways on Sunday night.
The contingent arrived Casablanca on Monday morning.
The remaining 13 players are expected to join their colleagues in camp later this week.
The Cranes will undertake an 11-day preparatory camp in Morocco, which includes two friendly matches as part of the final build up to AFCON 2025.
The East Africans are drawn in Group C with Nigeria, Tunisia and Tanzania.
Put’s side will open their campaign against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia at the Complexe Sportif de Fes on Tuesday, 23 December.
The Cranes of Uganda on Monday arrived Casablanca, Morocco for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations preparatory camp, reports Completesports.com.
17 players, head coach Paul Put, assistant coach Fred Muhumuza, and the full technical and support team made the trip.
The remaining 13 players will connect directly to Morocco from their respective clubs.
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The squad will undertake an eleven day preparatory camp in Morocco.
Uganda will play will play two friendly matches before the final squad announcement.
Put’s side have been drawn in Group C of the AFCON 2025 finals alongside Nigeria, Tanzania and Tunisia.
Uganda open their AFCON campaign against Carthage Eagles of Tunisia on 23 December before facing Nigeria and Tanzania in what is considered one of the tournament’s most competitive groups.
By Adeboye Amosu
Super Falcons skipper, Chiamaka Nnadozie has earned fresh acclaim in England after being voted the Barclays Women’s Super League Save of the Month winner for November.
This is another major highlight in her outstanding start at Brighton & Hove Albion as Nnadozie clinched the award for her stunning reflex save in Brighton’s clash against Liverpool.
In its official announcement, the WSL described the save as a demonstration of her
“elite reaction speed and command of her area,”
….noting that no other goalkeeper matched her consistency in November.
BBC Sport called the moment “one of the standout goalkeeping moments of the WSL season so far,” while Sky Sports hailed her as “a transformative signing for Brighton with immediate impact.”
The former Paris FC goalkeeper, already decorated with multiple honours in France, appears to have adapted seamlessly to English football, strengthening her reputation as one of Africa’s finest exports.
Brighton head coach Melissa Phillips, celebrating her goalkeeper’s latest achievement, said:
“Chiamaka has been exceptional since she arrived. This award is fully deserved.”
Nnadozie Lifts Brighton Over London City With Composure
Just days after winning the award, Nnadozie produced another dominant display as Brighton secured a gritty 1–0 victory over London City Lionesses following the international break.
The decisive moment of the match came early on from a calamitous defensive error from the hosts, who attempted to play out from the back.
This allowed Rosa Kafaji to intercept a misplaced pass and launch a swift counter-attack, finished clinically by Kiko Seike.
Brighton later missed the chance to extend their lead when Madison Haley saw her penalty saved by London City keeper Elene Lete, who read the strike perfectly and pushed it aside.
London City continued, dominating major stretches of the game, recording 14 shots to Brighton’s eight. However, they failed to make their pressure count.
Freya Godfrey curled a brilliant effort narrowly wide, while Jana Fernandez was denied by a crucial last-ditch block.
Brighton nearly found a second goal shortly after the break when Elena Linari cleared a threatening cross off the line before Lete collected amid a frantic goalmouth scramble.
Nnadozie’s Wall-Like Presence Proves Decisive
As the game grew tense in the closing stages, Nnadozie implemented the very qualities that earned her November’s top goalkeeping honour.
She commanded her box with authority, produced timely saves, and swept up behind the defence with confidence, denying London City any clear route back into the match.
Her dominant presence inspired Brighton to tighten defensively late on, ensuring the Seagulls held firm to move just one point behind London City in the WSL table.
Defender Caitlin Hayes also received praise for her determined display, making crucial interceptions and blocks to support the clean sheet.
Rofiat Imuran and London City Their Own Worst Enemy
Nigeria international, Rofiat Imuran’s side, London City will look back on this defeat with frustration.
They generated more chances, enjoyed longer spells of pressure, and produced better attacking patterns but once again, costly defensive errors undermined their efforts.
The team has now conceded six penalties in 10 league games, the most of any club in the WSL. They have also allowed 20 goals, a number exceeded only by second-bottom West Ham.
Their carelessness played directly into Brighton’s hands.
Mohamed Salah is not expected to be in Liverpool’s squad to face Inter Milan, despite taking part in training on Monday.
In an explosive interview at the weekend the 33-year-old forward said he felt like he had been “thrown under the bus” by the Reds amid the side’s struggles this season, and that his relationship with head coach Arne Slot had broken down.
Salah was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United – the third straight game the Egypt international has started on the bench.
Monday’s training took place before Liverpool face Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday, and Salah was involved while the session was open to the media.
Liverpool will fly out to Italy later this afternoon and Slot is scheduled to hold a news conference at about 18:45 GMT this evening.
Salah’s comments came after the Reds let a 2-0 lead slip in the draw at Leeds, with the Egypt international an unused substitute for the game.
The previous two games had seen Salah come on as a substitute in a 1-1 home draw at Sunderland, while he was left on the bench in a 2-0 win at West Ham.
His last start was in a 4-1 defeat by PSV Eindhoven at Anfield in a Champions League group game and his last goal came in a 2-0 win at Aston Villa on Saturday, 1 November.
Salah has scored five goals in 18 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League this season.
Overall, he has 250 goals in 420 Liverpool appearances and his 29 top-flight goals in the 2024-25 campaign helped the Anfield side win the Premier League title last season.
Salah, who joined Liverpool from Roma in 2017, signed a new two-year contract with the club in April.
BBC Sport pundit and former England striker Wayne Rooney believes Salah is “destroying his legacy” at the club and that Slot should not involve the player against Inter or in a home match against Brighton on Saturday.
The game against the Seagulls comes before Salah is scheduled to join up with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations.
“In my head, I’m going to enjoy that game because I don’t know what is going to happen now,” said Salah.
“I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to Africa Cup of Nations. I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.”
BBC
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has confirmed the new date for the pre-tournament friendly between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Pharaohs of Egypt.
The friendly was pushed back by two days following FIFA’s decision allowing clubs to keep their players until Monday, 15 December, before releasing them for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Naija News reports that Nigeria and Egypt had planned to meet in Cairo on Sunday, 14 December, based on the previous regulation that required an earlier release date for national team players. The match will now take place on Tuesday, 16 December.
In addition to the change in date, the fixture has been reclassified as a practice match so the two coaches can field more than five substitutes. The game will be played at Cairo Stadium, kicking off at 8pm local time, which is 7pm in Nigeria.
Nigeria, who have won the title three times, are drawn in Group C with Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania. The Super Eagles open their campaign on Tuesday, 23 December against Tanzania at the Complexe Sportif de Fes.
They will face Tunisia on Saturday, 27 December, before completing their group fixtures against Uganda on Tuesday, 30 December.
Egypt, the tournament’s most successful side with seven titles, will play their Group B matches at the Stade d’Agadir. They are grouped with South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe for the 35th edition of the competition.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
Niger Tornadoes technical adviser, Majin Mohammed, has described his team’s defeat to Kwara United as a bad day in office.
The Ikon Allah Boys suffered a 2-0 defeat to Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.
Terdoo Shimagande and Sabiu Ibrahim were withdrawn from the game due to injury.
Mohammed insisted that the players injury destabilised their plan.
“If there is anything called a bad day in football, I think Tornadoes had one,” Mohammed stated after the game.
“Kwara United scored twice and we suffered two injuries, all in the first half, which destabilised our game plan.”
Mohammed, however, admitted that Kwara United showed more determination in the game.
“Kwara United showed class. They were clearly well prepared for this game—perhaps because of recent scorelines—and it also shows that the position of a team on the log doesn’t always matter.”
Akwa United head coach Paul Offor has described his team’s failure to secure all three points against Godswill Akpabio United as unfortunate.
The Promise Keepers held the visitors at the Uyo Township Stadium on Sunday.
Akwa United currently occupy fourth position on the Nigeria National League, NNL, Conference B table with seven points from four games.
Offor blamed wastefulness for his side’s failure to win the game.
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“This match is gone, and I’m focusing on my players. I’m impressed with their performance today. The result does not reflect our effort,” Offor told the club’s media.
“We played very well and created clear-cut chances, but it’s disappointing that we couldn’t take them. Our ball play is improving, and I commend my boys for fighting back to get something from the game.
Offor reaffirmed the team’s ambition of securing promotion this season.
“We are still on course for our target, which is promotion. I’m confident we will bounce back strongly in the remaining 14 games,”Offor added.
Akwa United will be away to Sporting Lagos in their next league game.
By Adeboye Amosu
Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah has ignited a full-blown crisis at Anfield after delivering a stunning, seven-and-a-half-minute outburst on Saturday night, accusing the club of betrayal, revealing a broken relationship with head coach Arne Slot, and hinting at a possible January exit.
Speaking after Liverpool’s chaotic 3-3 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road, a match he watched entirely from the bench, Salah said he felt “thrown under the bus” and unfairly painted as the club’s problem during their torrid run of form.
Before Salah’s interview became public, Slot had praised the forward’s professionalism after his initial benching at West Ham:
“He was very supportive for his teammates, handled himself really well during the day and yesterday in the session as well.”
But the manager is now under enormous pressure, with some insiders believing Salah’s comments amount to a direct challenge to the club hierarchy.
“The club has thrown me under the bus” – Salah
Salah, who has now been benched in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time in his Liverpool career, did not hold back:
“I could not believe I am sitting on the bench for 90 minutes. That’s the third time. It’s the first time in my career, I think.”
“Very disappointed, done so much for this club over years, especially last season, It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus.”
“That’s how I feel it.”
He continued:
“Someone wants me to get all the blame. [The] club promised me a lot in summer. Now I’m on bench so can say they haven’t kept those promises.”
“I used to have a good relationship [with Slot]. Now we don’t have any relationship and I don’t know why. [It] seems like someone does not want me in the club.”
The comments come at a time when the Premier League champions have collapsed in form, winning just four of their last 15 games in all competitions.
Salah Benched Again and Left Out Entirely at Elland Road
Saturday’s match at Leeds marked Salah’s third straight game without a starting place, a shocking new development for a player who had started 53 consecutive league matches before last week.
Slot hasn’t played the 33-year-old a single minute since the draw at Sunderland.
After full-time, Salah walked straight down the tunnel, later reappearing to speak to reporters in what became one of the most explosive interviews of his career.
Salah Plans Farewell Before AFCON
Salah will depart Liverpool on December 15 to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The forward revealed he has already prepared for what may be his last Anfield appearance:
“I call my mum and dad told them to come to the Brighton game. It doesn’t matter if I play or not. I’m going to enjoy it.”
“Just going to be at Anfield and say goodbye to the fans before the African Cup, because I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.”
“I don’t accept this situation” – Salah says he has earned his place
The Liverpool legend, who has scored 250 goals in 420 appearances, insisted the club has failed to respect his contributions.
“It’s not acceptable to me to be fair. If I was somewhere else, every club would protect its players.”
“Now, it’s ‘Throw Mo under the bus because he is a problem in a team.’ I don’t think I am a problem.”
“I am not fighting for my position every day because I have earned it.”
He added:
“I am not bigger than the club. I am not bigger than anything, but I have earned it.”
Mo Salah on Hints of Saudi Arabia Move
Asked directly whether he could join the Saudi Pro League in January, Salah looked ahead cautiously:
“I don’t want to answer that question because club will take me in a different direction. I have done so much for this club.”
“I love the fans so much and love the club, I don’t know what is next.”
The Premier League’s current top scorer also vented about perceived double standards:
“I am scoring more than anyone in this generation since I came to the Premier League. I don’t think anyone else scored more.”
“Can I give an example? It’s silly, Harry Kane was not scoring for 10 games, maybe got one or two.”
“Everyone in the media was: ‘Harry will score for sure.’ Now it is: ‘Mo needs to be on the bench.’”
Relationship with Slot “gone”
One of Salah’s most surprising admissions was that he and Arne Slot no longer communicate and does not blame his teammates:
“There is no relationship [with Slot]. It was a very good relationship. Now there is no relationship.”
“I don’t feel let down by my teammates. These guys know how much I love them and how much I support them. There is much love between us.”
Mo Salah Spotted Training after his Explosive Interview
Regret over new contract? “Even the question hurts”
Salah signed a two-year contract extension in April, months before winning the Premier League title.
Now, he admits the situation has fallen apart:
“How bad I have to answer that. Even the question hurts, I will never regret signing for this club.”
“I thought I was signing and ending my career here. Now this is not according to the plan.”
He added:
“In my head, why should it end this way? Five months ago I was winning awards, now why go in this direction?”
What’s next? January exit looms
Salah will play Brighton next weekend and possibly his final match at Anfield before AFCON. By the time he returns in late January, Liverpool might already have decided his future.
And based on his own words, the winger himself doesn’t know what comes next:
“It is what it is. In football you never know.”
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, has ended its ‘Invitation Football Competition 2025’ held at the premises of the Division headquarters in Port Harcourt, in Rivers State.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Division, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, speaking at the end of the match, said the primary aim of hosting the “GOC Division Invitation Football Competition 2025” was to engage the minds of the youths.
Noting that “an idle mind is devil’s workshop”, Major General Emekah said it was necessary to employ none kinetic approach to engage the mind of the young officers.
The GOC who doubles as the Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South South, Operation Delta Safe, emphasised on the importance of physical fitness to Nigerian Army, expressing satisfaction with the tournament.
“What we try to do is to keep our youths busy and that is the primary reason we are doing this. We conduct both kinetic and non-kinetic operations and this is one of the non-kinetic.
“This will help to keep their minds fit, physical fitness is important and if you’re physically fit, it will keep your brain and mind at alert,” he noted.
He stated further that “From here we spot talents that will project beyond the barracks. Today’s match was quite impressive, but they will do better in subsequent competition.
“This is an invitational tournament. There is no need for a winner or loser. They did not show the spirit behind the competition because it is supposed to be a novelty match. I however congratulate you for winning”, Maj Gen. Emekah hailed the winning team.
Python 6 Division Football Club defeated Ugboro FC, a visiting team from Cross River State 4 -1. Trophy and cash were presented to winning teams in the week- long tournament.